The United States is in fabulous shape: Jurgen Klinsmann’s team is top of the group, two points ahead of Mexico, never mind that El Tri has played an extra match. By this time next week, the United States can have one leg and a couple of arms already in Brazil. Because a win over Honduras next week in Salt Lake City will see the Americans with 13 points with four matches remaining – and it probably takes 14 or 15 points to book an automatic spot into Brazil.
The crowd got it right chanting “We’re going to Brazil!” after Tuesday’s second goal.
For the record, this will be the seventh in a row.
Dominant win, you asked for … ?: For everyone somehow not satisfied with last week’s win on the road – and fans, whether they like it or not, should always be satisfied with any win on the road in World Cup qualifying – well, here it was.
Tim Howard had just a few routine catches and one traffic-impaired punch before a stoppage time moment called on him to hurry off his line for a swell save. The United States midfield bossed things all night. This one was quite comfortable.
(One word of contextual warning: All credit to the U.S. midfield, every member of which had a night to remember, but Panama’s midfield is weak. If Tuesday’s visitors arrive into their first World Cup, and they may, it will be on the strength of their center backs and strikers, mostly Blas Perez, who was missing Tuesday.
(MORE: U.S. player ratings vs. Panama)
Klinsmann nailed it with his changes: Needing to find replacements for the suspended Graham Zusi and injured Jermaine Jones, Klinsmann couldn’t have done much better. Eddie Johnson filled in along the right (for Zusi), working the position simply and effectively, picking his spots to take on defenders – letting the game come to him, as they say, rather than trying to do too much. Then, he got the big second half insurance goal in front of the home fans.
And about that goal, what made it was Geoff Cameron’s pinpoint ball over about 40 yards. Cameron was Jones’ replacement, and a bit of an unconventional one. He has played centrally in midfield before, but that was back in his Houston Dynamo days. He was a right back for Stoke City this year. Furthermore … well, just keep reading …
Cameron just booked his spot for Brazil: Assuming good health, and assuming the United States keeps on keeping on, Geoff Cameron will be in the 23 when Klinsmann fills out the roster next May. Are you kidding me? A guy who be effective at three positions: center back, right back and holding mid? (And he could probably play right mid, as well.) Yes. You take that man to a World Cup.
Jozy Altidore makes more money every time he steps on the field now: Cameron was quite good Tuesday. Michael Bradley was Michael Bradley, the brains of the team, always a willing outlet, always wise with the ball. But my Man of the Match was Jozy Altidore.
What a complete game, technical in his touches, diligent in chasing and harassing and clever in his positioning. Altidore has scored in three consecutive matches now – and how far, far, far away does that long goalless drought with the national team seem now? If his huge season at AZ wasn’t enough to draw interest from bigger clubs (and it was) then his summer with the national team will put the cherry on this transfer sundae.
